CENTRAL COAST RUGBY UNION 2008

Rugby was first played on the Central Coast competitively in 1969 when the Brisbane Waters Rugby Club was formed. The club played with limited success in the Newcastle Rugby Union competition from 1969 until 1974. The Central Coast Rugby competition comprises of ten teams: Avoca Beach, Kariong, Gosford, The Entrance, Ourimbah, Warnervale, Terrigal, Southern Lakes, Woy Woy, Northlakes. Board of the Central Coast Rugby Union for 2008 is as follows : President: Larry Thomson. Vice-Presidents: Mike Goodway, Mark Brown. Directors: Sean Williams ( Juniors), David Bowler (Referees)  John Kenney, Terry Flynn.   Results & reports have been posted for ROUND 18 SATURDAY, 16th AUGUST, 2008   Preview for MINOR SEMI-FINAL SATURDAY, 23rd AUGUST, 2008 See below.... FIRST GRADE POINTS TABLE ROUND 18 Avoca Beach 64, Terrigal 60, Kariong 59, Gosford 51, Northlakes 46, The Entrance 31, Ourimbah 23, Woy Woy 16, Warnervale 1 2ND GRADE POINTS TABLE Ourimbah 64, Avoca Beach 60, Kariong 58, Terrigal 56, Gosford 45, Warnervale 29, Woy Woy 20, Northlakes 15, The Entrance 3 3RD GRADE POINTS TABLE Terrigal 71, Ourimbah 52, The Entrance 52, Avoca Beach 52, Northlakes 47, Kariong 34, Gosford 26, Woy Woy 9, Warnervale 6 UNDER 19 POINTS TABLE Avoca Beach 52, Terrigal 45, Woy Woy 24, Gosford 0

PREVIEW (by Larry Thomson)
Saturday, 23rd August, 2008
MINOR SEMI-FINAL

WOY WOY OVAL

The 2008 Finals series finally commences. The Final Four sees four teams that are very evenly matched and it shapes as one of the closest Premiership races in many years. All four teams have equal chances to take the 2008 Premiership and all matches shape up as being very close.

This Saturday’s Minor Semi-final sees Kariong up against Gosford in what should be an enthralling game of rugby. It is sudden death and both teams will give it their all to go to the next stage in the race to the 2008 Premiership. Kariong will go into the game as slight favourites having defeated Gosford in both encounters between the two sides this year. Both games were close but it was the Kariong side that came out on top in the final stages of both games. Kariong have an all powerful forward pack and they have controlled most of their games this year. They are excellent on the rolling maul and close to the line they are almost unstoppable. Players such as Sione Ofahengaue, and props Steve Lauti and Shannon Bevan, have proved very difficult to stop. The result of this game will much depend on the battle in the forwards. If Gosford can compete at the breakdown and the set pieces they will be a good chance. But this is a big ask. Kariong have dominated most forward packs on the Coast this season and in recent weeks have also gained the necessary fitness to do it for the entire 80 minutes. Gosford will have to get big games out of their tight five. Props Brad Porter and Brad McBride will be keys. They will have to match the Kariong front five at all stages. Gosford do have an excellent backrow in Andrew Moseley, John Jackson and Shanon Hardgrave and they will match the Kariong loose forwards. The big question is in the tight five. The backlines do almost cancel each other out. Kariong do have the experience in players such as Mark Tasi, but also the speed. Gosford have a very young backline and will run the ball at every opportunity. The two halfbacks are also key men. Both are their teams’ goal kickers, and both have good passes to get their outside backs on the go forward. Gosford’s Damien Montgomery and Kariong’s Scott Hanley will play a significant role in the game. Either side can win this knock out semifinal, and many feel the final result will not be known until the latter stages of the match.

The Second Grade Minor Semifinal also features Kariong and they are up against Terrigal. Both teams almost finished the season on level terms so the result of this clash will be a cliff-hanger. Kariong have loads of experience in their team but the Terrigal side was able to post a much better for and against throughout the whole season. This game should be a beauty and there is absolutely nothing between the two sides.

The Entrance and Avoca Beach finished the season on the same number of competition points so the Third Grade Minor Semifinal is probably even more enthralling than Second Grade. Both teams finished the season level with second placed Ourimbah but the difference was the for and against. This game on paper will the closest game of the day as there is nothing between them. It will be a traditional battle in the forwards but it will probably be the outside backs that grab victory for one side or the other late in the game.

Terrigal takes in Woy Woy in the Under 19 Minor Semifinal. Both teams know they have a second chance whatever the result but a win will be a moral victory in the lead up to the final games of the season. Terrigal will go in to the game as favourites, having won the last two encounters between these two teams.